OBJECTIVETo determine the role of hepatic oval cell in primary hepatocarcinogenesis using specific Y chromosome.

METHODSThe model of hepatic oval cell proliferation was established by feeding 30 male Wistar rats with 0.06% 3'3-diaminobenzidine (DAB) for 4 weeks. Another 40 female Wistar rats were equally randomized into two groups: control group and experimental group. Experimental group was inoculated with oval cells suspension from the prepared male rats under the hepatic amicula and fed with DAB for 14 weeks continuously to promote hepatocarcinogenesis. Control group was fed with DAB for 14 weeks. After primer fragments were worked out on the male rats' SRY genes using the software of primer design, DNAs were extracted from the hepatic carcinomas of the female rats of the two groups and then amplified with PCR. Electrophoretic analysis was performed on the products.

RESULTSAfter 14 weeks, primary hepatocarcinogenesis was found in the livers of all the 40 female rats. Electrophoresis showed the positive straps from the experimental group with the same length to the designed segments, whereas no positive straps were seen in the control group.

CONCLUSIONSThe hepatic oval cells can differentiate into hepatic cancer cells, which provides the evidence that the hepatocellular carcinoma has its source from the hepatic oval cells.